Will the Orioles' defense improve?

Will the Orioles' defense improve?

Jeff Gross, Getty Images

It's hard to imagine it can get worse. Their 75 errors on the season are the most in the majors and more than twice as many as the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox have committed. Five Orioles -- Wilson Betemit (13), Robert Andino (12), Reynolds (9), Matt Wieters (8) and Adam Jones (7) -- have made at least seven errors in the first half. Betemit (pictured), Andino and Wieters already reached career highs. For the better part of the past six weeks, the Orioles have been playing infielders in the corner outfield spots due to injuries to their regulars. They'll get Markakis (right hamate bone surgery) and left fielder Endy Chavez (hamstring) back for the start of the second half, and that can only help. But it's the infield defense, with the exception of shortstop J.J. Hardy, that's been so frustrating. The sure-handed Andino really has stumbled this year, but he'll likely stay at second with Roberts injured and no better defensive alternative. Chris Davis was supposed to be above-average at first base, but he struggled with scooping throws in the dirt. Reynolds was forced to first base because his attempt at third failed miserably. Betemit is below average at first and third. Andino is probably the team's best defensive third baseman, and Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty could probably handle third or second adequately, but the Orioles lose a lot of offense with those two in the lineup simultaneously. A trade for a better defensive third baseman is a possibility, but that would mean jettisoning one of the incumbents, and only Davis would have any actual trade value. So what can Showalter do to make his existing fielders catch the ball in the second half? Given the current roster construction, hope and pray may be the best two answers.

It's hard to imagine it can get worse. Their 75 errors on the season are the most in the majors and more than twice as many as the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox have committed. Five Orioles -- Wilson Betemit (13), Robert Andino (12), Reynolds (9), Matt Wieters (8) and Adam Jones (7) -- have made at least seven errors in the first half. Betemit (pictured), Andino and Wieters already reached career highs. For the better part of the past six weeks, the Orioles have been playing infielders in the corner outfield spots due to injuries to their regulars. They'll get Markakis (right hamate bone surgery) and left fielder Endy Chavez (hamstring) back for the start of the second half, and that can only help. But it's the infield defense, with the exception of shortstop J.J. Hardy, that's been so frustrating. The sure-handed Andino really has stumbled this year, but he'll likely stay at second with Roberts injured and no better defensive alternative. Chris Davis was supposed to be above-average at first base, but he struggled with scooping throws in the dirt. Reynolds was forced to first base because his attempt at third failed miserably. Betemit is below average at first and third. Andino is probably the team's best defensive third baseman, and Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty could probably handle third or second adequately, but the Orioles lose a lot of offense with those two in the lineup simultaneously. A trade for a better defensive third baseman is a possibility, but that would mean jettisoning one of the incumbents, and only Davis would have any actual trade value. So what can Showalter do to make his existing fielders catch the ball in the second half? Given the current roster construction, hope and pray may be the best two answers. (Jeff Gross, Getty Images)

It's hard to imagine it can get worse. Their 75 errors on the season are the most in the majors and more than twice as many as the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox have committed. Five Orioles -- Wilson Betemit (13), Robert Andino (12), Reynolds (9), Matt Wieters (8) and Adam Jones (7) -- have made at least seven errors in the first half. Betemit (pictured), Andino and Wieters already reached career highs. For the better part of the past six weeks, the Orioles have been playing infielders in the corner outfield spots due to injuries to their regulars. They'll get Markakis (right hamate bone surgery) and left fielder Endy Chavez (hamstring) back for the start of the second half, and that can only help. But it's the infield defense, with the exception of shortstop J.J. Hardy, that's been so frustrating. The sure-handed Andino really has stumbled this year, but he'll likely stay at second with Roberts injured and no better defensive alternative. Chris Davis was supposed to be above-average at first base, but he struggled with scooping throws in the dirt. Reynolds was forced to first base because his attempt at third failed miserably. Betemit is below average at first and third. Andino is probably the team's best defensive third baseman, and Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty could probably handle third or second adequately, but the Orioles lose a lot of offense with those two in the lineup simultaneously. A trade for a better defensive third baseman is a possibility, but that would mean jettisoning one of the incumbents, and only Davis would have any actual trade value. So what can Showalter do to make his existing fielders catch the ball in the second half? Given the current roster construction, hope and pray may be the best two answers.